Question

The commonest and the most infectious childhood exanthemata is:
(A) Polio
(B) Variola
(C) Chicken Pox
(D) Leprosy

Answer 1

The term ‘Exanthemata’ is a kind of skin rash which is accompanied by disease or fever. It is a communicable disease and it is very common in children.

Complete answer: Chicken Pox is a contagious itchy-rash, red spots or blisters type disease whose symptoms are seen all across the body. It is an infection caused by the virus Varicella zoster. It is a contagious disease and it is commonly transmitted to the people who haven’t had the disease before or have not taken any vaccine against it. Over the period, these red blisters pop and leak, causing irritation and marks over the area of the body. Symptoms usually appear in approximately 10 to 20 days after the contact with someone who has the disease’s virus. Chickenpox is generally mild, especially in children. But, in severe cases, the blisters can spread to the nose, mouth, eyes and even to the genitals. Adults have a high risk of spreading in comparison to the children. Those with the weakened immune system, for example, cancer patients, HIV patients or any other disease patients are at higher risks. It is one of the most common infectious childhood exanthemata.
Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Additional Information: Once a person is infected by the chickenpox’s virus named varicella-zoster virus, the virus remains inside the human nerve cells for years. It can ‘wake-up’ and can reactivate again. It can lead to ‘Shingles’, a condition that causes painful blisters. Fortunately, there’s a vaccine developed for shingles, and Doctors recommend it for adults over the age of 60 years.

Note: Note: The vaccine of chickenpox is available all across the world today. Two doses of chickenpox vaccines are over 90% effective to prevent it. Most people who take the vaccine are not infected by this disease. ‘Varivax’ is the medicine used to cure chickenpox.